19 April 1970: Paul Temple, season 2, episode 3: Games People Play

Paul Temple was a very popular series about a writer, Paul Temple, and his wife Steve, who go around exotic locations, solving the many mysteries that seem to crop up all around them.

It was broadcast on Sunday evenings at 7.25 pm, a prime slot.

“Games People Play”, the episode in which Michael Gothard appears as an up-and-coming actor called Ivan, was filmed in Malta, and is the only extant episode filmed on 16 mm colour film, the rest being only on digital video.

Radio Times plot synopsis:

“While in Malta, Paul and Steve are drawn into the 'sweet life' of a group for whom luxury has become a necessity - a life that soon lures the innocent beyond boredom into danger.”

Watch extracts, including Michael Gothard's scenes as Ivan on Youtube.

IMDB entry



Michael Gothard as Ivan.

Radio Times entry from Media Gems.

Games People Play: reviews

From: “Media Gems.”

Several renowned TV series writers used the opportunity of a format seemingly without any limits to engage in all kinds of experiments (from a dramatic, not a technical point of view). Therefore, when we see the episodes today our verdict must be that many (not all) have aged surprisingly well. Not only do they profit from the chemistry between Matthews and Ros Drinkwater who plays Steve, but also from considerable achievements by the crew. A good example is Philip Dudley’s direction of “Games People Play”, an episode which benefits greatly from the fact that the action is set on Malta and that it was made entirely on film. Co-producer Bryant compared this story to Fellini's classic, La Dolce Vita.

Full review.
( Read more... )

Games People Play: screencaps

Before the titles, we see a group of people apparently hunting a man. Ivan (Michael Gothard)
throws a rock at him. It looks serious, but it turns out to be part of a game.


( Read more... )